I am in the process of making a catapult with a nautilus gear for a ball launcher.
The current design causes the arm of the catapult to reach 20" vertically during launch.
It’s only an instant before it goes down again.

It can’t toggle a high flag or block a ball (unless it’s aimed directly on top of the robot).
Would that be allowed and should I keep it?

I am in the process of making a catapult with a nautilus gear for a ball launcher.
The current design causes the arm of the catapult to reach 20" vertically during launch.
It’s only an instant before it goes down again.

It can’t toggle a high flag or block a ball (unless it’s aimed directly on top of the robot).
Would that be allowed and should I keep it?

Nope… it is clearly against the rule. Unless you are only gonna shoot from the expansion zone.

there are many examples of catapult that managed to stay within 18”. Maybe you might want to take a look at them?

I am in the process of making a catapult with a nautilus gear for a ball launcher.
The current design causes the arm of the catapult to reach 20" vertically during launch.
It’s only an instant before it goes down again.

It can’t toggle a high flag or block a ball (unless it’s aimed directly on top of the robot).
Would that be allowed and should I keep it?

As long as you are in the expansion zone you can expand past 18" vertically. Other than that you are not allowed to expand past the 18" height and if your expansion happens multiple times which you receive multiple warnings OR your expansion is match affecting, then you would be disqualified according to the rules of <SG2>

<SG2> Robot expansion is limited once the Match begins. As per <G3>, at the beginning of a
Match, each Robot must be smaller than a volume of 18” (457.2 mm) long by 18” (457.2 mm) wide
by 18” (457.2 mm) tall.
a. Once the Match begins, a Robot which is contacting the Expansion Zone may expand
vertically with no height limit. However, once fully outside of the Expansion Zone (i.e. no
longer contacting it), the Robot must return to a height limit of 18” (457.2 mm) tall.
b. Once the Match begins, Robots may expand, but no horizontal dimension can exceed 36”
(914.4 mm) at any point during the Match.
c. As a result of this rule, Robots may not contact High Flags.
Note: A Robot which interferes with gameplay as a result of violating this rule, such as Toggling a
High Flag or blocking a launched Ball while outside of the Expansion Zone, will result in a
Disqualification, whether the interference is Match Affecting or not.
Minor violations of this rule that do not affect or interfere with the Match will result in a warning.
Match Affecting offenses will result in a Disqualification. Teams that receive multiple warnings may
also receive a Disqualification at the Head Referee’s discretion.